Rising Star

ONU business alumnus builds a leading financial services franchise

Paul Carbetta II, BSBA ’90, is driven to succeed. In just four years, he’s built one of the largest Ameriprise Financial Services franchises in the country and become one of the company’s highest ranking financial advisors. He and his team continually rank among the top 10 – no small feat considering there are more than 10,000 Ameriprise financial advisors in the U.S.

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Carbetta is president of Comprehensive Wealth Partners, a financial advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial Services, based in Worthington, Ohio. The firm consists of 11 financial advisors and 11 support staff and continues to grow. They offer a wide range of financial planning and wealth management services to people from all economic backgrounds and at all stages of life, managing more than $800 million for their financial planning clients, researching more than 350,000 investments, and providing advice to more than 1,600 clients.

According to Carbetta, his firm’s success comes from a carefully crafted team and a horizontal model of leadership. Team members possess a mix of competencies that complement one another, and each lends a voice in the firm’s day-to-day operations. “Our clients appreciate the fact that we work together to meet their needs,” says Carbetta. “Each team member offers specialized expertise. This approach is what makes our firm stand out in the industry.”

For his part, Carbetta excels at relationship building, and it’s the aspect of his job he loves the most. He maintains a small list of around 150 clients in order to provide each with personalized care and attention. He gets to know his clients’ families, attending graduation and retirement parties, weddings, and funerals. He’s available to assist with all financial matters, even helping some clients negotiate a fair deal on the purchase of a home or vehicle.

In this volatile market and political climate, Carbetta believes it’s more important than ever to maintain regular contact with clients. “You have to be on top of your game and keep yourself and your clients educated,” he says. “They need to know you are looking out for their best interests and are in the boat with them.”

Every time he helps a client achieve their financial goals – such as putting their children through college or retiring when they want – it’s gratifying and emotional, says Carbetta. “With more than 20 years in the business, it has been rewarding to see clients start out with a dream and see their goals met,” he explains. “The best part is to deliver the message: ‘Congratulations, you can officially retire!’”

Carbetta, who originally hails from Mansfield, Ohio, attended ONU in the late ’80s. He switched majors several times before finally settling on finance and marketing. He says a trip to an American Marketing Association conference in Chicago served as a turning point in his college career. He became better acquainted with his professors, and they encouraged him to break out of his shell, speak up in class and get involved on campus. He took their advice to heart.

While at ONU, Carbetta served as a student spokesperson for the financial aid office and a bear ambassador for the admissions office. In fact, he and a fellow student coined the term “bear ambassador.” He also took several public speaking courses and helped his speech professor teach the “Dine for Success” program that showed students how to mix and mingle in a public setting and conduct a successful interview over dinner.

Today, Carbetta continues to give back to his alma mater. He serves as chairman of the business college’s advisory board, and he founded and chairs the college’s annual golf and fishing outing. “I’ve come back to campus every year since graduation, and I’ve given back either through time or financially every year since graduation,” he says. “I credit ONU for many wonderful relationships in my life and an incredible education.”

When he graduated from ONU, Carbetta taught at a community college for a couple of years before becoming a financial advisor with Ameriprise. As a franchise owner, he’s found his passion.

In the past three years, his firm has grown significantly by attracting advisors looking for a team approach to provide for their clients. “We’ve become an appealing place for financial advisors to plug into and find success,” he says.

In 2011, Carbetta’s financial services firm was recognized by Barron’s Winner’s Circle as a top advisor. “It is gratifying to know that others within the industry recognize what you are doing,” he says.

While Carbetta appreciates the recognition, his focus continues to be on delivering value and meeting client expectations. “We want our clients to refer their family and friends to us,” he says. “Our goal has always been to be the most respected and recognized financial services firm in the Columbus area, and we’re on our way toward achieving that.”

Carbetta and his wife, Leah, have three girls, Kaylee, Olivia and Gianna, and two dogs. Carbetta enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer and T-ball teams, golfing, and playing the drums.